On Friday, President Trump signed executive orders to ban the entry of Syrian refugees seeking asylum, and temporarily suspended the immigration of citizens from seven other predominately muslim countries into the United States. This executive order is part of Trump’s plan to keep out “radical Islamic terrorists”, whilst granting priority to Christians and other’s from minority religions.“We don’t want them here,” President Trump said, at the signing ceremony at the Pentagon. “We want to ensure that we are not admitting into our country the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas. We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country, and love deeply our people.”
In an interview for the Christian Broadcasting Network, Trump explained to a reporter that Christians were “treated horribly” under previous administrations, “if you were a Muslim you could come in, but if you were a Christian, it was almost impossible.” Trump seems to be making up facts out of thin air (again), because according to the Pew Research Center, almost as many Christian refugees were admitted as Muslim refugees in the year 2016. The amount of Christian refugees being 37,521, and the amount for Muslim refugees being 38,901.
The executive orders suspends refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, whilst directing officials to determine additional screening ”to ensure that those approved for refugee admission do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States.” According to the New York Times, this executive order also stops the admission of immigrants from seven other predominately muslim countries for up to 90 days. These countries are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
Since the news first broke regarding Trump’s initial steps to eradicating “Islamic terrorism”, his actions have been condemned by Human Right’s activists, describing them as political prosecution disguised to look like an effort to keep the United States “safer”. The American Civil Liberties Union described his actions as a “euphemism for discriminating against Muslims”, whilst The International Rescue Committee called it “harmful and hasty.” “Trump’s latest executive order is likely to hurt the people most in need: those fleeing violence and terrorism – and on Holocaust Remembrance Day, no less,” said the senior US researcher at Human Rights Watch, Grace Meng.
Trump signed the refugee ban on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is all a bit ironic. Millions of Jews died in concentration camps because they were denied entry into the United States, fearing they could be Nazi spies, or “threats to national security”. Other countries, especially France and Germany, have stated their concern over Trump’s move to ban refugee arrivals.
This executive order places many innocent lives in danger, whilst also separating members of families already living in the United States. If America, being one of the most powerful countries in the world, close their doors on innocent lives, their legitimacy as a country, and their leadership is for sure being placed on the line. Where are the so called “American values” so many love to preach? If only they are given a chance to escape the horrors that follow them at home, refugees who simply seek peace, are capable and willing to love America as deeply as true Americans. Do not close the doors, and borders on those who need the most help. Who do we become once we turn our backs on those who need us? We definitely do not become a country fit to lead.
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